Potato growers in Minnesota and North Dakota are warning that delays in the H-2A visa process could disrupt preparations for the 2026 planting season in the Red River Valley, one of the most important fresh potato production regions in the United States.
Regional reports say some workers recruited from South Africa are facing interview bottlenecks and other processing delays at U.S. consulates, raising fears that labor may not arrive in time for critical spring fieldwork.
Regional alarm bells
The Red River Farm Network reported on March 20 that Northland Potato Growers Association Executive Director Gary Shields, along with area growers, raised the issue during a call with White House Liaison Jason Becker. According to that report, International Workforce LLC told growers that a backlog had developed and that some visa appointments were not available until July.
For a northern production region working within a tight seasonal window, that timing is a serious concern.
Why timing matters in potatoes
This is not a minor regional crop. USDA data show North Dakota produced 24.84 million cwt of potatoes in 2025, while Minnesota produced 16.674 million cwt. Northland Potatoes also says the Red River Valley is the nation’s largest producer of fresh-market red potatoes and produced more than 500 million pounds in the most recent year cited.
That helps explain why growers are treating the labor issue as more than a bureaucratic inconvenience.
Part of a wider H-2A problem
The Red River Valley story also appears to fit a broader national pattern. Agri-Pulse reported in February that some H-2A workers in other sectors were being placed on administrative “holds,” leaving growers to absorb housing, food, and related costs while workers waited abroad.
Pro Farmer echoed that reporting, and U.S. Department of Labor data show the H-2A program remains large and growing, with 24,725 applications received in fiscal 2025, up 9.3 percent from the year before.
What officials say
The U.S. State Department notes that visa wait times fluctuate, do not guarantee appointment availability, and do not include additional administrative processing time.
The U.S. Embassy in South Africa says new nonimmigrant visa appointments for Cape Town, Durban, and Johannesburg are added every Thursday afternoon, but that does not remove the uncertainty facing seasonal employers who need workers on a narrow spring schedule.
The bottom line
At this stage, there is no firm public evidence that 2026 Red River Valley potato acreage or output will be reduced. But there is credible reporting that growers see the current delays as a real operational threat. In a region where planting timing can shape the entire season, late labor arrivals could mean higher costs, tighter schedules, and avoidable production risk.
Online sources consulted
- Red River Farm Network – Ag Labor Shortage Compounded by Visa Issue
- FreshPlaza – U.S. potato growers face H-2A visa delays ahead of 2026 season
- PotatoPro – H-2A visa delays threaten 2026 potato planting in Red River Valley, United States
- Agri-Pulse – Some H-2A workers put on holds, costing growers
- Pro Farmer – H-2A guest worker visas stalled, causing mounting costs for growers
- U.S. Department of Labor – H-2A Selected Statistics FY2025
- USDA NASS – 2025 State Agriculture Overview: North Dakota
- USDA NASS – 2025 State Agriculture Overview: Minnesota
- U.S. Department of State – Visa Appointment Wait Times
- U.S. Embassy in South Africa – How to Apply for a U.S. Visa
- Northland Potatoes / Pride of Dakota profile
Author: Lukie Pieterse, editor/publisher Potato News Today
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